Maple/Birch bookcases

The design challenge in these is that they went in a loft accessible by a 2’ metal spiral staicase or by a ladder over a railing, approximately 16’ off the second floor. I did not like the way the corner turned out, and have other ways I could have done it, but this is pretty much what the customers wanted, and an L corner cabinet would have seriously been difficult to get into the room.

The shelves are all adjustable and there were more than I put in. There was a nasty smoke detector I had to put on the face of one of the cabinets, because it was linked to others, and well, couldn’t just be moved.

-- The mark of a good carpenter is not how few mistakes he makes, but rather how well he fixes them.

You should have insisted that the customer get a licenced electrician to move the smoke detector first.

In your case your customer will probably have books stacked in front of the detector restricting the natural flow of air, and or potential smoke, in the room should it catch fire. Get your customer to sign an affidavit where he assumes all responsibility for any fire damage in the future. Just my 2 cents worth.

They are not stained, my lumber supplier, picked through what he calls 90% mineral content to bring me as close to white maple as you can get around these parts. There is really alot of burl in this wood that you can not see that well in any of the 20 some odd pictures I took of these. I know most production guys avoid burl, but I love it. It’ll take me a little longer to work, but I know how, so it won’t be that bad, and it really can make the difference in appearances.

-- The mark of a good carpenter is not how few mistakes he makes, but rather how well he fixes them.